Towel-service cabinet



Sept, 25 1923.

D LElBOW ET AL TOWEL SERVICE CABINET Flied Julv 20 1921 Patent Sept. 25,1923.

DAVID LEIBOW mm monnrs comm, on NEW roan, arr

, v rownL-snnvron CABINET.

, A i Application filed Jul 20, 1921. Serial Ito; asaote.

To all whomc't may concern: 7 Be it known that we, DAVID LnIBow and MoRRIs CoHEN, respectively a citizenof the United States and a citizen of Russia and re-. spectively residing at New York, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Towel-Service Cabinets; and we do hereby declare the following to be a 10 full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in toilet cabinets; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of cabinet for holding a supply of clean towels subject to release for use without however permitting their detachment from the cabinet mechanism by the user, thus preventing unauthorized carrying away, mislaying or other loss of the same. o

The invention has for'its principal object to provide a novel construction and arrangement of toilet towel cabinet, comprising a clean towel compartment, a soiled towel compartment and a novel. means mutually cooperating with said respective compartments for holding the towels against de-' tachment from the cabinet, while at the same time subjecting the same to free manipulation and use for toilet purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel towel retaining means with locking devices for the same; said towel re- 40-taining means having intermediate the respective compartments of the cabinet and exterior thereof, a means for holding the towel, which has been withdrawn from the clean towel compartment for use, suitably suspended against dropping if accidentally released fro the hands of the user.

provide in connection with the towel retalnlng means a novel means for engaging and locking its respective ends so that the same may be released for the reception, of

-more clean towels in the one case, and the removal of soiled towels in the other case.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time 'more' particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

With the various objects of this invention in view, the same consists, primarily, in the novel construction of toilet towel cabinet hereinafter set forth; and, the invention consists, furthermore, in the several novel arrangements and comblnat'lons of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details'of the construction of the same, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which 2-- Figure 1 is a front'elevation of the novel toilet towel cabinet, having portions broken away to show part of the interiors of the respective clean towel and soiled towel 'compartments.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the cabinet, taken on line 22 in said Figure l.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section, taken on line 33 in said Figure 1, a part of the pivoted cover or trap of the soiled towel compartment being broken away to show a portion of the interior of the latter.

Figure 4 is a detail View of the means employed to hold and lock the ends of the towel retaining means, said view being drawn on an enlarged scale.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

, Referring now to said drawings, the reference character 5 indicates the complete cabinet, which comprises a vertical mam body or back-board 6, at the upper end of which is fixed a forwardly projecting clean 'towel' compartment 7 formed by the side A. further object of the invention is towalls 8, top wall 9 and bottom wall 10, thus providing said compartment with an" open front. The open front of said compartment is normally closed by a hinged door 11.

be swung upwardly and rearward y to open up the upppr end of the compartment when desired. racket pieces 13 ma be employed to reenforce the support said compartment 7 from the mam body or backboard 6. Said bottom wall 10 is cut away at its rearward portion to provide a towel passage or opening 14 intermediate the main body or back-board 6 and the rear end of said bottom wall. Arranged u on the respective interior sides of the side walls 8 are pairs of parallel vertical "guide members 15 providing guideways 16 for the ends of a vertically movable follower weight 17.

Fixed to and projecting forwardly from the lower end of said main body or backboard 6, and in downwardly spaced relation to said clean towel compartment 7, is a soiled towel compartment 18, formed by the side walls 19, bottom wall 20 and front wall 21, thus providing said compartmentwith an open upper end. Said open upper end of the soiled towel compartment is normally closed by a pivoted trap door or gate 22, the same having transversely alined and centrally disposed journal pins 23 which are journaled in the side walls 19. The construction 'of said-trap door or gate 22 is such that its center of 'gravityiis below the axis of its pivotal connection with the compartment, so that while thesame will freely swing open in either direction, it will always automatically return to closed position when released, thus constituting the same a self-closing door or gate. I y

The cabinet constructed as above described may be either arranged to stand upon legs 24, as shown in the drawings, or it may be suspended against a wall in any suitable or well known manne The novel towel retainingmeans which is associated with the cabinet in mutually co- 3 operating relation to the respective compartments of the same, comprising a rod peculiarly shaped to conform to the requirements of the invention. The shaping of this rod is such that the same provides at the upper end a vertical receiving portion 25 for extension downwardly through the rearward portion of the clean towelcompartment through the towel passage or opening 14, Upon emerging from said clean towel-compartment 7 said rod is provided with a for-' ward extension 26 terminating in a U-shaped suspension loop 27. From said U-shaped suspension loop 27 said rod is provided with a rearwardly and downwardly projecting extension 28- terminating in a downwardly extending vertical portion 29, whichenters of sai the same extending downwardly.

through a notch 36 provided in the rear edge door. or gate'22 so as to extend downwardly into the interior of said soiled towel com artment 18. The lower ortion of the rod is then bent forwardly an upwardl as at 31 and 32, with the termination 33 o the same located adjacent to the front wall 21 of said compartment 18 beneath the forward edge of said door or gate 22. The'upper termination 34 of said rod is provided with a slot.35, which is normally engaged over a holding lug 36 fixed to said main body or back-board 6 within the upper portion of said clean towel compartment 7. Said lug 36 is provided, adjacent to its free end with a perforation or hole 37, through which may be passed the lock-link of a pad-lock 38, whereby the upper end of the rod is retained against displacement from said holding lug 36. In like manner, the lower terminatio 33 of said rod is also slotted for en a clue t over a similar holding lug 39 whic 1s fixed to the front wall 21 of said soiledtowel compartment 18. Said lu 39 is likewise provided, adjacent to its. ree end with a perforation or hole 40 through which may be passed the lock-link 41, whereby the lower end of said rod is retained against displacement from the holding lug 39.

The toilet towel cabinet, constructed as above described, is admirably adapted for use in providing clean towel service for oflices. stores, factories, public lavatories and all similar places, wherein a fresh su ply of towels are periodically delivered. The cabinet is provided with a plurality of fresh clean towels 42, each towe 43 at one end. The towels thusarranged are each folded crosswise so that the eyeleted ends project beyond thefree ends, and are arranged one on top of the other with their eyeleted ends uppermost. To place a fresh, supply of towels within the cleantowel com-. partment 7, the latter is opened and the'follower wei ht 17 removed. The pad-lock 38 is removed from the holding lug;36,-'and the up er termination 34 of the towel retaining rod is disengaged from said holding lug 36. The clean towels are then placed within the compartment 7 and attached to the retaining rod by threading their eyeleted ends over the termination 34. The towels are then suphaving an eyelet I downwardly from the towel passage or open ing 14 (as shown in Figure 2 more particularly). The follower weight 17 is replaced so as to rest upon the pile of clean towels thus deposited in the compartment 7, and the termination 34 of the retaining rod is again engaged with the. holding lug 36 and the pad-lock 38 is replaced thus locking the end of the retaining rod in place, and preventing the removal of the towels therefrom. The

passage or opening 14, and

compartment 7 is closed, whereupon the cabinet is charged ready for the dispensing of the towels.

A person desiring to make use of a towel, grasps the downwardly projecting free end of the same which projects from'the towel by pulling upon the towel withdraws the same from the compartment 7 so that-the eyeleted end of the towel will slide downwardly and outwardly upon the retaining rod until it lodges in the U-shaped suspension loop 27. The towel thereupon is suspended from said'suspension loop 27, subject to the manipulations of the user, and cannot drop upon the floor, to become contaminated with the floor dirt, nor

can it drop into the soiled towel compartment 18 before the user is through with the same, if accidentally released from the users hands.

After the person is through using the towel, the same is slid upwardly over the rearward arm of the suspension loop 27 on to the extension 28 and then downwardly upon the portion 29. The rearward end of the door or gate 22 yields to the pressure of the downwardly thrust towel, so that the said door or gate moves to the open position (indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2), thus permitting the used or soiled towel enter the soiled towel compartment 18 so as to lodge therein.

When it is desired to remove the accumulation of soiled towels from the compartment 18, the door or gate 22 is opened to give access to the pad-lock 41, which is released from the holding lug 39 so that the lower termination 38 of the retaining rod may be disengaged from said holding lug 39. :The lower end of the retaining rod being thus released, the operator may reach into the compartment 18, grasp the soiled towels lodged therein, and thereu on draw the same upwardly oil of the retalning rod and out of the compartment 18. Afterthe soiled towels have thus been removed, the lower end of the retaining rod is again engaged with and looked upon the holding lug 39.

From the above description it will be apparent that our invention provides, a very eiiicient and handy towel service cabinet, the construction of which is simple, and the arrangement of which is such that the towels may be very quickly and easily manipulated, while they are at the same time guarded against accidental or intentional carrying away resulting in loss.

We are aware that some changes may be made in the arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the above specifioationand as defined in the following claims. Hence, we do not limit our invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various parts as described in said specification, nor do we confine ourselves to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanymg drawings.

e claim 1. A towel service cabinet comprising a clean towel compartment and a soiled towel compartment, t e former being vertically spaced above the latter, a towel retaining rod to which the towels are movably attached, said retaining rod extending from the clean towel compartment into the soiled towel compartment, said retaining rod having an exteriorly disposed forwardly projected suspension loop intermediate said com artments shaped for temporarily suspen ing a withdrawn towel above the soiled towel compartment in convenient for use, means for releasably supporting the upper end of said retaining rod whereb when said upper end is released clean towel: may be engaged with the rod, and similar means for releasably supporting the lower end of said retaining rod whereby when said lower end is released soiled towels may be disengaged from the rod.

2. A towel service cabinet comprising a clean towel compartment having a towel passage in the rearward portion of its bottom, a soiled towel compartment having an open upper end, a transversely pivoted gate normally closing the upper open end of said soiled towel compartment, said clean towel compartment being vertically spaced above said soiled towel compartment, a towel retaining rod to whichv the towels are movably attached when piled in the clean towel compartment, the upper portion of said retaining rod extending vertically downward through said clean towel compartment and its towel passage, the lower portion of said rod extending vertically downward through position the rearward portion of said soiled towel compartment with its lower end turned forwardly and upwardly within said latter compartment, and said retainin rod havin an exteriorly disposed forwar y projects suspension loop intermediate said compartments.

3. A towel service cabinet comprising a clean towel compartment having a towel passage in the rearward portion of its bottom, a soiled towel compartment having an open upper end, a transversely pivoted gate normally closing the upper open end of said soiled towel compartment. said clean towel compartment being vertically spaced above said soiled towel compartment, a towel retaining rod to which the towels are movably attached when piled in the clean towel compartment,'the upper portion of said retaining rod extending vertically downward through said clean towel compartment and its towel assage, the lower portion of said rod exten in vertically downward through the rearwar portion of said soiled towel com artment with its lower end turned forwar ly and upwardly within said latter compartment, said retaining rod having an exteriorly disposed forwardly projected suspension l'oop intermediate said compartment, means for releasably supporting the upper end of said retainin rod whereby when said upper end is release clean towels may be engaged with the rod, similar means for releasably supporting the lower end of said retaining rod whereby when said lower end is released soiled towels may be disengaged from the rod.

4. A towel service cabinet comprising a clean towel compartment havin a towel passage in the rearward portion 0 its bottom, a soiled towel compartment havin an open upper end, a transversely pivote gate normally closing the upper open end of said soiled towel compartment, said clean towel compartment being vertically spaced above said soiled towel compartment, a towel retaining rod to which the towels are movably attached when piled in the clean towel compartment, the upper portion of said retaining rod extending vertically downward through said clean towel compartment and its towel passage, the lower portion of said rod extendmg vertically downward through the rearward portion of said soiled towel compartment with its lower end turned forwardly and upwardly within said latter compartment, said retaining rod having an exterlorly disposed forwardly projected suspension loop intermediate said compartments, means for releasably supporting the upper end of said retaining rod whereb when said upper end is released clean towe s may be enga ed with the rod, similar means for releasafily supporting the lower end of said retaining rod whereby when said lower end is released soiled towels may be disen aged from the rod a follower weight, and means within sai clean towel compartment for guiding said follower weight.

5. A towel cabinet, comprising a backboard, a clean towel compartment pro'ecting forwardly from the upper end of sai backboard having a towel passage in 'the rearward portion of its bottom, a soiled towel compartment projectin forwardly from the lower end of said backoard having an open upper end, said soiled towel compartment being vertically spaced beneath said clean towe] compartment, a self-closing cover associated with the open end of said soiled towel compartment, a towel retaining rod to which the towels are movably attached so as to be capable of being successively withdrawn from said clean towel compartment through the compartment, a self-closing cover associated.

with the open end of said soiled towel compartment, a towel retaining rod to which the towels are movably attached so as to be capable of being successively withdrawn from said clean towel compartment through the towel (passage of the latter, said retaining rod .exten ing from the clean towel compartment into the soiled towel compartment, said retaining rod having an exteri'orl disposed forwardly projected suspension oop intermediate sald compartments, means for releasably supporting the upper end of said retaining rod whereby when said upper end is released clean towels may be enga ed with the rod, similar means for releasa ly supporting the lower end of said retaining rod whereby when said lower end is released soiled towels may be disengaged from the rod, a follower weight, and means within said clean towel compartment for guiding said follower weight.

7. A towel service cabinet, comprising a back-board, a clean towel compartment projecting forwardly from the u per end of said back-board having a towe passage in the rearward portion of its bottom, a soiled towel compartment rojecting forwardly from the lower end 0 said back-board having an open upper end, said soiled towel compartment being vertically spaced beneath said clean towel compartment, a self-closin cover associated with the open end of said soiled towel compartment, a towel retaining rod to which the towels are movably attached so as to be capable of being successively withdrawn from said clean towel compartment through the towel passage of the latter, said retaining rod extending from the clean towel compartment into the soiled towel compartment, said retaining rod having an exteriorly disposed forwardly projected suspension 100 intermediate said compartments, a holdlng lug fixed within the upper rear portion of said clean towel compartment, the upper termination of said retaining rod having a slot permitting the engagement thereof over said holding lug, 100 means for securing said up r termination of said retaining rod agamst disengagement from said holding lug, a second menace? holding lug fixed within the upper forward portion of said soiled towel compartment, the lower portion of said retainer rod having a forwardly and upwardly turned lower termination, said lower termination of said retaining rod having a slot permittin the engagement thereof over said second ho ding mg an open upper end, said soiled towel retaining rod having a slot permitting the.

compartment being vertically spaced beneath said clean towel compartment, a selfclosing cover associated with the open end of said soiledtowel compartment, a towel retaining rod to which the towels are movably attached so as to be capable of being successively withdrawn from said clean towel compartment through the towel, passage of the latter, said retaining rod extending from the clean towel compartment into the soiled towel compartment, said retaining rod having an exteriorly disposed forwardly projected suspension loop intermediate said compartments, a holding lu fixed within the upper rear portion of said clean towel compartment, the upper termination of said engagement thereof over said holding lug, lock means for securing said upper termination of said retaining rod against disenagement from said holding lug, a second olding lug fixed within the upper forward portion of said soiled towel compartment, the lower portion of said retaining rod having a forwardly and upwardly turned lower termination, said lower termlnation of said retaining rod having a slot ermittin engagement thereofover said second olding lug, a second lock means for securing the said lower termination of said retaining rod against disengagement from said second holding lug, a follower weight, and means within said clean towel compartment for guiding said follower weight.

9. In a towel service device, a compartment for supporting clean towels piled one upon another, said compartment having a bottom opening, a guide-rod upon which said towels are slidably attached for individual movement thereon, said guide-rod extending downwardly through said bottom opening whereby towels may be successively pulled from the bottom of the pile thereof to pass downwardly on said guide-rod and out of said compartment, and said guide-rod having in its exterior portion intermediate its lower end and said compartment a suspension loop for impeding free downward movement of a towel on said guide-rod until manually released from said suspension loop,

10. In a towel service device, a compartment for supporting clean towels iled one upon another, said compartment aving a bottom opening, a aide-rod upon which said towels are slidalily attached for individual movement thereon, said guide-rod extending downwardly through said bottom opening whereby towels may be successively pulled from the bottom of the pile thereof to pass downwardly on said guide-rod and out of said compartment, said guiderod having in its exterior portion intermediate its lower end and said compartment a sus pension loop for impeding free downward movement of a towel on said guide-rod until manually released from said suspension loop, and a soiled towel receiving means in which the lower end of said guide-rod is entered.

In testimony that we claim the invention r set forth above we have hereunto set our hands this 15th day of Jul 1921. DAV LEIBUW. MOIS COHEN. Witnesses:

Gnonen D. Brena;

or: M. Ema. 

